The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Right To Love

The song of the day for is “The Right To Love.”

About This Song

“The Right To Love,” originally named “Reflections,” was written in 1963 by Lalo Schifrin and was recorded as an instrumental with Stan Getz for his album Reflections. Gene Lees wrote the lyrics, at the suggestion of Tony Bennett, who made it an anthem for marginalized love; originally associated with interracial relationships and now embraced by LGBTQ+ community.

“The Right to Love,” consistently year to year, ranks in top five songs searched for on this site. The vast majority of those searches come from public school URLs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Right To Love” on February 18, 1965, for If I Ruled the World: Songs For the Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“The Right To Love,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs For the Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

We have Peggy Lee‘s recording of today’s song from her 1964 album In The Name of Love.

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Song of the Day: Nice Work If You Can Get It

The song of the day for Monday, October 12, 2026, is “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

About This Song

“Nice Work If You Can Get It” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 film A Damsel in Distress, starring Fred Astaire. Significant recordings include those by Tommy Dorsey, Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson, and Fred Astaire with The Ray Noble Orchestra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Nice Work If You Can Get It” in July 1993 for Steppin’ Out, accompanied by The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon: piano, Doug Richeson: bass, and clayton Cameron: drums). Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Steppin’ Out won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Nice Work If You Can Get It,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

And, of course, we have Fred Astaire’s performance of “Nice Work If You Can Get It” from the 1937 A Damsel in Distress. It starts with a party scene where “Nice Work If You Can Get It” is sung:

Followed by Fred Astaire and the drum set.

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Sunday, October 11, 2026, is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon, which starred Fred and Adele Astaire; the song was introduced by John Barker and Tilly Losch. It was used in 1953 MGM musical The Band Wagon, where it was danced by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dancing in the Dark” on April 6, 1961, for the album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

Here is the exquisite dance by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse for “Dancing in the Dark.” It doesn’t get much better than this.

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Song of the Day: This Is All I Ask

The song of the day for Saturday, October 10, 2026, is “This Is All I Ask.”

About This Song

“This Is All I Ask” was written in 1958 by Gordon Jenkins; Jenkins considers this song his best compositions. The song has been widely recorded by artists including Nat Cole, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, and Harry Nillson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “This Is All I Ask” on March 1, 1960, for Alone Together. Frank Devol wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“This Is All I Ask,” as well as Alone Together, is available on Apple Music.

Bill Evans and Toots Thielemans made this beautiful recording of “This Is All I Ask” for their 1979 album Affinty.

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Song of the Day: Isn’t It Romantic?

The song of the day for Friday, October 9, 2026, is “Isn’t It Romantic.”

About This Song

“Isn’t It Romantic?” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1932 film Love Me Tonight. In the early 1930s, Richard Rodgers, with his wife, Dorothy, and 2-year old daughter Mary, and Larry Hart moved to Los Angeles to write music for films, Mary Rodgers, daughter of Richard Rodgers, said in her 2022 memoir, Shy:

Both she [her mother Dorothy] and Daddy detested it. They had moved there for money and got it, but Daddy was frustrated because everything he and Larry wrote, no matter how good, was thrown out. They didn’t have any hits during those three years except for the ones from Love Me Tonight: “Isn’t It Romantic?” and “Lover.” In California they were contract hacks who, far from celebrated, were silenced.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t It Romantic?” in September 1972 with the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet and trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Giuffrida on bass. Two albums were released from the September sessions: Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, which “Isn’t It Romantic?” was on, in 1976 and Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart, released in 1977. Both albums were released on Bennett’s Improv label.

“Isn’t It Romantic,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

I found a video with Jeanette MacDonald singing “Isn’t It Romantic?” from Love Me Tonight on Youtube. It includes some still photographs from the film. The entire film is available on YouTube as well.